Category Archives: Newsroom

EAST LANSING – This September, a new team of MEA officers have taken the helm of the state’s largest school employee union. President Paula Herbart, Vice President Chandra Madafferi and Secretary-Treasurer Brett Smith are kicking off their time in office with a statewide listening tour to hear from the experts on the front lines of public education – the dedicated teachers and school support staff working every day with Michigan’s students.

“In this fast-paced, information overloaded society, individuals are longing to be heard. Educators are especially eager to share their thoughts, their hopes and their frustrations,” Herbart said. “That’s why we’re going around the state to listen to the passions and concerns of our members and learn what we can do to help. We need to listen to the experts on the front lines – and we’re going to take those stories with us to policymakers in Lansing and Washington in our role as statewide education leaders.”

MEA has launched a new video highlighting the important role education support professionals play in schools across Michigan. The video features MEA education support professional members, like paraprofessionals, bus drivers, secretaries, food service workers, custodians, maintenance workers and others who help kids in our schools achieve and learn. “Education support professionals are a critical part of our…

President Trump’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program affects students and young people – including educators – who work and learn in our nation’s classrooms and colleges.

Branwyn Jones has taught English at Michigan’s oldest community college for nearly 30 years, but it wasn’t until she and her colleagues joined MEA and negotiated their first contract that she says she earned her Ph.D. – in contract bargaining.

MEA lawyers filed a brief this week with the Michigan Supreme Court in support of the union’s 2010 lawsuit seeking the return of money taken from school employees’ paychecks to fund retiree health care.

This Labor Day will be especially meaningful for art teacher Sally Purchase, and she hopes her colleagues and their families from Muskegon Community Schools turn out to make a big statement at the holiday parade and community celebration.

In a few weeks, my six years as MEA’s president comes to an end. Reflecting on everything that’s occurred during this turbulent time — including unprecedented political attacks on the education profession — I’m struck by two things.

For members attending MEA’s Summer Leadership Conference this week in Sault Ste. Marie, the event’s title is more than just a name – “leadership” is the central focus of this year’s event designed to jumpstart the new school year.

The new law that changes the state’s retirement system for school employees (PA 92), passed in June and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in July, will affect new hires for the most part. But provisions for buying service credit will change for everyone.